About a dozen times in 20 years it’s circled back with fresh motivation every time Dale Hood reaches out to his old chums from the sports world.

An e-mail, a letter, a phone call.

Just something to tip coaches and players off to the fact that it’s time to get together again to help out one of their own.

Whitey Mellor. Buddy Miley. Bill Werkeiser. Pete Scheetz.

They’re just a few of the guys that have gotten a helping hand from these nights of camaraderie that always serve a larger purpose.

While a mist of nostalgia winsomely surrounds Winter Sports Night, there’s no admission charge to board this time machine.

Not this year anyway.All that’s needed on March 4th at Chap’s Taproom & Sports Grill is a desire to help, the ability to donate a few bucks and a decided itch to have a good time.

“We changed gears a little bit this year,” said Hood, a one-time quarterback for Norristown High. “I didn’t want to have to sell tickets like we’ve done before. The way this will work is a guy will come, have two beers and a cheesesteak, pay for it, and Chap’s will make a financial contribution to the Vivian family. There will be a donation jar, so hopefully everybody that comes puts 10 or 20 dollars into it.”

The former restaurateur admitted that this year he wasn’t even planning on holding the event that has its roots in The Times Herald’s Coaches Roundtables of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and later helped spark business on some otherwise slow Monday nights at Hood’s Jus-Dale’s Carriage House eatery in Skippack.

Then last December Hood read in The Times Herald about the Vivian family’s ordeal and the Wonderland of Wishes fundraiser that was held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center to help them with medical expenses.

Seven-year-old Eli and 4-year-old Ella Vivian were diagnosed with Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, or MLD, a disease that causes the degeneration in white matter of the brain and the central nervous system, robbing the individual of the ability to function normally, often resulting in paralysis, blindness, seizures and even death.

The children’s father, Steve Vivian, had left his mark with a memorable athletic career at Bishop Kenrick High School, as did his brother Mike.

“I don’t even know the Vivians very well,” Hood said. ”But when I read about the Vivian family, it just clicked and I said, that’s who we’re going to help this year. The family is traveling to Italy for treatment for this disease to try to save these kids’ lives and their expenses are outrageous. The Vivian name is a strong athletic name in this area. I’m trying to bring the Central Montgomery County sports community of yesteryear and today together for a nostalgic night, to come out, have a few beers and have a good time for a good cause.”

The absence of formality (i.e. no speeches to sit through) makes the Winter Sport Night an especially enjoyable night out, one regular participant told Hood not long ago.

As an added bonus, Chap’s may get a visit that night from 1950s Olympic bronze medal winner and Norristown native Josh Culbreath.

Some unexpected reunions have been known to occur at these things, Hood said.

“Two guys were there who were in their 60s who had played together in Little League in Norristown when they were 12,” he recalled. “The one guy stayed in town, the other moved away but came back for this event and they hadn’t seen each other in well over 50 years. Now that’s a rarity, but it happened. “

Now the story that began so many worthy causes ago is coming into the home stretch on another chapter.

“I like to always find a reason to have this,” Hood said. “I do get great joy in bringing the sports community together. I found an enjoyable niche doing this.”